Eye Muscle Surgery

In order to maintain straight eyes, 6 muscles on each eye must be in perfect balance. Strabismus, or ocular misalignment, results when any of these muscles is "out of sync."

Surgical correction involves strengthening or weakening the involved muscles. The procedures have a low risk of infection or vision loss and are performed in outpatient settings. Most patients prefer general anesthesia, but some cases can be performed with local/topical anesthesia and analgesia. The surgery involves use of absorbable sutures and typically no eye patches post-operatively. Drops or ointment are used to enhance recovery and prevent infection. Eyes remain red for a few weeks, but the appearance significantly improves after the first week. Adults can generally return to work within 1 week and children often return to school in 3 days.